Help please for a new Resmed user.

[Gideon]

As a rule, in most cases you can trust what the machine tells you.

[Partner]

Thanks for the replies - it's the free airway apneas that worry me most - she has a few each night, usually no more than 15 seconds, but sometimes more than 20 seconds.

I'm worried that one night they may last longer . . .

[Gideon]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry, monitor yes, but not worry. I and others have requested that users contact their doctors asap several times, you are nowhere near that threshold.

[Sleeprider]

Good suggestions above. I am not concerned with the CA events flagged for your wife, or I would not suggest the full EPR settings of 7/4. I do think this is going to be much more comfortable, and especially if the leaks are controlled. The main reason a data-recording CPAP might get the apnea type wrong is leaks, It is very subtle whether the pressure sensors that determine CA or OA are detecting an open airway, or a leaking circuit.

[Partner]

Thanks for all the advice - maybe I worry too much, but it's unnerving when your spouse stops breathing in the middle of the night.

Last night we tried upping the pressure a bit (5.0/7.0 instead of 4.0/5.8) and the humidifier set at 2.  The figures are very good for the night: 2 small hypopnea and one clear airway of 12 seconds, but she slept badly, and when she woke up there was dried blood around her lips   .

The technician came round to-day and has reset the machine at 5.0/12.0 in Autoset and no humidifier.  I don't think that she will sleep very well with that, but we'll give it a try tonight.

Has anyone an idea for the blood ?

Here are a couple of charts for the night:

   

   

[Gideon]

EPR setting is important for her.
If the 'tech' didn't give you marching orders I'd say keep the fixed 7 and set EPR = 3.
This will better with the flow limitations and allow a lower average pressure.

I just checked and you already have several recommendations for these same settings. These settings can't provide better efficacy, your numbers are as good as they get, but should provide better comfort.

[Partner]

Thanks Fred, we'll give it a try .

[holden4th]

The OSCAR charts look good and most of us here would be very happy with an AHI of 0.37. Leak rates look OK as well.

What hasn't been mentioned here is the cumulative effect of using PAP therapy. I suspect that it's because most of us here have a hazy memory of those early days. My experience was that when my AHI numbers eventually came good I didn't initially feel better and I suspect that this is true for most PAP users. The good news is that I did eventually feel better and I can remember driving to work one morning thinking "this is the best I've felt in a long time". It will happen for your wife.

Listen to and apply the very sage advice from the experts on this forum but she's already doing very well with her therapy.

[Partner]

Thanks Holden,

I know that's good advice - maybe I'm too impatient, wanting a miracle cure the first night